44 WILD SPAIN. 



A blazing sun is a great assistance, making the birds 

 lazy and disinclined to exert themselves. As an instance 

 of this we remember being after bustard one day in 

 September — an intensely hot day even for Spain, and 

 with a fiery sun beating down on the quivering plains. 

 Though well protected by a thick felt helmet and wearing 

 the lightest of light summer clothes, the heat was almost 

 more than one could endure. We had unsuccessfully ridden 

 over some thousands of acres of stubble and waste — it was 

 on the historic plains of Guadalete where Roderic and the 

 Arabs fought — when at length we were gratified by observ- 

 ing three bustards walk out of a cluster of thistles. After 

 twice circling round them, we saw that at eighty or ninety 

 yards' distance, they would stand it no longer : so turning 

 in the saddle, gave them both barrels, but without effect, 

 as they sailed away about a mile and settled. On a second 

 approach, as they rose at 200 yards, it looked as though 

 they were impracticable, but doubting if there were other 

 birds in that neighbourhood, we kept on, and followed them 

 in this second flight, which this time was shorter. Again 

 they rose wild — wilder than ever, at fully 300 yards. They 

 came down upon a patch of the barley- stubbled plain where 

 we were able to mark their position to a nicety, for they 

 pitched close to a somhrajo, or sun-shade for cattle (a thatch 

 of palmetto spread on aloe-poles). On approaching the 

 place, and not seeing the bustards afoot, we concluded they 

 were resting after their repeated flights ; but having 

 reached almost the exact spot, we could still see nothing of 

 them. This was perplexing. We knew they could not have 

 risen, for our eyes had never left the spot where they had 

 settled. What could have become of them? .... All 

 at once we saw them, squatting flat within thirty yards of 

 us, each bird pressed close down with his neck stretched 

 along the ground. All trouble was now rewarded. It was 

 not a chance to be risked by shooting from the saddle : and 

 as we slid to the ground, gun cocked, and facing the birds, 

 we felt it was the best doul)le rise at big bustards that ever 

 man had. As we touched the ground, they rose : one fell 

 dead at forty yards, a second, wheeling back, showed too 



